Evaluation of a Physical Activity Referral Scheme

Paula Watson

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Musculoskeletal Injury; Obesity; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cancer; Depression; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Anxiety; Cardiovascular Risk Factor; Metabolic Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical activity referral scheme; Behavioral: Usual care exercise referral scheme

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03490747

SPS-17-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a co-developed exercise referral scheme. Participants will be recruited to one of three groups 1. Co-developed exercise referral scheme, 2. Usual care exercise referral scheme, 3. No treatment control (no intervention). The study will measure effectiveness by observing change in cardiorespiratory fitness at 12 weeks. Intervention cost-effectiveness will also be evaluated at 3 months follow-up using objective physical activity data.

Full description

Evidence of effectiveness for UK exercise referral is unclear. This representation has been deemed an unfair assessment of its potential to impact public health. This is due to systematic review evidence that reports evaluations of exercise referral interventions that are not evidence-based or underpinned by behaviour change theory.

This evaluation is the third phase of a project that aims to co-develop (Phase 1), pilot (phase 2) and evaluate (phase 3) an evidence-based exercise referral scheme. This approach is underpinned by the Medical Research Council guidance for complex interventions.

Through co-development work with a multidisciplinary group of researchers and local stakeholders and subsequent pilot work, it is hypothesised that the co-developed, evidence-based intervention will have improved chances of implementation success, and therefore, clinical effectiveness.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older and have a health-related risk factor (e.g. high blood pressure, hyperglycaemia, obesity etc.) or a health condition (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression etc.) that may be alleviated by increasing current PA levels.

Exclusion criteria

• Uncontrolled health-conditions (Cardiac, metabolic, respiratory etc.) and/or any recent traumatic events (e.g. myocardial infarction).
• Unstable angina or aortic stenosis.
• Severe psychological or neurological conditions.
• Participation in an ERS at any location other than the research centres (at the time of recruitment).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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68 participants in 3 patient groups

Co-developed referral scheme

Experimental group

Description:

A physical activity referral scheme co-developed by multidisciplinary stakeholders to incorporate behaviour change support and ensure pragmatic relevance and feasibility.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical activity referral scheme

Usual care referral scheme

Active Comparator group

Description:

Comparative, usual care exercise referral scheme.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual care exercise referral scheme

No treatment control

No Intervention group

Description:

Lifestyle advice leaflet only (provided to participants in all arms during baseline assessments).